MUMBAI: What does one expect when two greats like Ghulam Ali and Pandit Ajay Pohankar take to the stage? The concert on Thursday evening, organised by Perfect Octave, featuring the two artistes was called �Infinity' – It also featured Panditji's son Abhijit Pohankar (�Piya Bawri' fame) on the keyboards. The purpose of this concert was to introduce young listeners to Ghazals and classical music by fusing it with western instruments like Keyboards, Guitar, Jazz Flute and Percussions.

Ajay Pohankar opened the show, held at the Shanmukhananda auditorium in Mumbai, with raag Puriya Dhanashree and son Abhijit improvised over it on the keys. With Panditji's brilliant vocal range, the notes seemed to be �erupting' out of nowhere. And, just like a sea wave travelling to the shore, Panditji's alaaps travelled with intensity and enigma leaving an inexplicable feel. There was a moment of disruption when a young TV journo was lashed by a listener sitting next to her for constant squabbling – this was a near spoiler for an otherwise delightful evening.

In the second half, Ghulam Ali, an even bigger draw, took the stage. Dressed in a crisp blue kurta, the man behind evergreen ghazals like Chupke Chupke was received with gusty applause. He sang Kal Chaudvi Ki Raat Thi, and Apni Tasveer Ko on request but mostly stuck to his lesser known ghazals and on-spot vocal-harmonium improvisations throughout his solo stint. For the new listeners, Ghulam Ali would frequently stop and explain the meaning of an Urdu Shayari and then continue with the song.

The finale, considered to be the main part, showcased a fusion between Classical and Ghazal singing. Both Pt. Ajay Pohankar and Ghulam Ali took the centre stage to exchange some musical thoughts. While son Abhijit Pohankar played classical with a jazz-blues organ sound on the keys, guitarist Chintu Singh was seen bending the strings much like they do in a rock song, the flautist gave the entire performance a new sound while the percussionist added subtle beats to the classical compositions. The audience, a mix of young and old, applauded, and broke in with frequent mehfilisque wah - wah's in appreciation. Many Ghulam Ali fans felt that Khansaab was not at his best since his voice sounded heavier than usual – possibly because of the erratic weather. However, despite that, the music and camaraderie the two legendary artiste displayed was proficient and truly magical.